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Monday, 24 September 2012

Westeros and it's 7 Kingdoms

The Seven Kingdoms of Westeros''King Tommen Baratheon, the first of his name, King of the Andals and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm"
Seven Kingdoms? . . . What exactly are the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros?Whenever I tried to count up what I thought were the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros I always came up with nine rather than seven. I thought ''You have to be going wrong somewhere''. However what I was counting are 9 distinct regions of Westeros that were formed after the Targaryen Conquest.
The title of Seven Kingdoms actually comes from the time before the Conquest when there were seven separate kingdoms. There are now 9 regions ruled under the one King.The old Kingdoms were:1. The Kingdom of the North2. Kingdom of Vale and Sky3. Kingdom of the Isles and Rivers4. Kingdom of the Rock5. Kingdom of the Reach6. Kingdom of the Stormlands7. DorneThe "new" 9 regions1. The North2. The Riverlands3. The Vale of Arryn4. The Westerlands5. The Iron Islands6. The Crownlands7. The Stormlands8. The Reach9. Dorne
Seven of the above regions were former independent kingdoms before the Targaryen Conquest. Each region, except the Crownlands, is ruled by a Great House, who are commanded by the King on the Iron Throne, currently that is Joffrey Baratheon.

1. The NorthRuled by: House StarkCastle: WinterfellPrincipal port: White HarbourThe North is the largest of the regions of Westeros, but also the least populated. This is because of the harsh long winters and long distances between holdfasts and towns. The North also includes the Wall and the lands administrated by the Nights Watch, which are technically speaking independent,but are almost always thought of in conjunction with the North. Bastards born in the North are given the surname "Snow"2. The RiverlandsRuled by: House TullyCastle: RiverrunPrinciple Ports: Seaguard, Saltpans, MaidenpoolThe Riverlands are dominated by the mighty River Trident and it's many tributaries. The Riverlands, lying close to the centre of the continent have been the site for battles and conflicts throughout the history of Westeros. The Riverlands is one of the most fertile and most populated region in Westeros, which is one of the main reasons they are able to recover consistently from so many battles. Bastards born in the Riverlands are given the surname "Rivers"3. The Vale of ArrynRuled by: House ArrynCastle: The EyriePrinciple Port: GulltownThe Vale is dominated and mostly covered by the Mountains of the Moon and its its foothills. It's borders are prowled by hostile hill tribes. Bastards born in the Vale are given the surname "Stone".4. The WesterlandsRuled by: House LannisterCastle: Casterly RockPrinciple Port: LannisportThe Westerlands are famous for their hills and low mountains which are rich in silver and gold. They provide House Lannister and their vassals with immense wealth. Bastards born in the Westerlands are given the surname "Hill".5. The Iron IslandsRuled by: House GreyjoyCastle: Pyke (located on the island of the same name)Major Islands: Great Wyk, Little Wyk, Harlaw, Blacktyde, Orkmont, Saltcliffe, and Pyke itself.The Iron Islands are rain lashed and cold. They are home to a hardy warrior race known as the Ironborn. The live for warfare and reaving and are the most troublesome and rebellious of the Iron Throne subjects. Bastards born on the islands are given the surname "Pyke".

Pyke, located on the Island of Pyke

6. The CrownlandsRuled by: Ruled directly by the King on the Iron ThroneCastle: The Red KeepThe capital city of the Seven Kingdoms, Kings Landing, is located in the Crownlands. The Crownlands stretch along the shores of Blackwater Bay and also across several islands in the Narrow Sea, most notably Dragonstone. The islands are separately administered from Dragonstone. Bastards born in the Crownlands are given the surname "Waters".7. The StormlandsRuled by: House BaratheonCastle: Storm's EndImportant Islands: Estermont and TarthAs the name suggests the Stormlands are subject to frequent storms off the Narrow Sea and experience significant rainfall. They are one of the most densely wooded regions of Westeros, particularly south of the Neck. As a result of this its climate is similar to that of a temperate rainforest. Bastards born in the Stormlands are given the surname "Storm".8. The ReachRuled By: House TyrellCastle: HighgardenPrinciple Port: Oldtown (Also a principle city)Oldtown is the second largest city in Westeros. The Reach is the second largest region of Westeros. It is by far the most fertile and populated region. This allows the Tyrells to field vast armies and also results in them being wealthier than any other family, bar the Lannisters. The Reach also includes some offshore islands such as the Shield Islands and the Arbor. Bastards born in the Reach are given the surname"Flowers".9. DorneRuled by: House MartellCastle: SunspearPrinciple Port: Planky TownThe people of Dorne are isolated from the rest of Westeros by the Sea of Dorne and the Red Mountains. This gives them a greater national identity than most of the other people of Westeros, save for the Ironborn and the Northmen. Bastards born in Dorne are given the surname "Sand".Beyond the WallBeyond the Wall is a vast, snow-covered wilderness independent from the Iron Throne and separated from the Seven Kingdoms by the Wall. Inhabited by tribes of people known as wildlings who often attempt raids along the Bay of Seals or the Bay of Ice. Often for the same purposes the climb over the Wall.

The Eyrie, located in The Reach

Cities in WesterosCities are very rare in Westeros, because it is mostly rural-based populations. The 5 major cities of the continent are, Kings Landing: The capital of the Seven Kingdoms, population of half a million. Largest city of Westeros, founded by Aegon the Conqueror on the site he first set foot on, on the continent.Oldtown: Oldest major city on the continent, located in the Reach. Almost as large and populated as the capital.Lannisport: The largest city on the west coast of Westeros. It is about half the size of Kings Landing.Gulltown: Main city and port of the Vale, has a population in the tens of thousands.White Harbour: Main city and port of the North. Has a population in the tens of thousands.Castles of WesterosCastles are held by the noble houses of Westeros and range in size. Some are vast city-sized structures like Harrenhal or Winterfell and others are small towerhouses or fortified farmsteads run by landed knights.
The size of a castle and in what state of repair it is kept reflects the wealth and power of its ruling family
Most notable castles of Westeros include;1. Harrenhal2. Storm's End3.The Eyrie4. Pyke5.Riverrun6. Winterfell7. Sunspear8. Casterly Rock9. Highgarden10. The Twins11. The Red Keep
Westeros is pronounced as WES-te-ros as opposed to WES-ter-ohs.